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The Week Ahead

Week Ahead: Spring a Leake

Mike Leake didn't pitch especially well in his first couple outings for the Reds this season, putting up a 6.75 ERA and 6/6 K/BB ratio. Ever since then, however, the right-hander has been lights-out, exhibiting terrific control while consistently shutting down opposing lineups.

In his past 11 starts, Leake is 6-3 with a 2.07 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Over 69 2/3 innings, he has issued only 12 walks while striking out 53. His needle is strongly pointing up right now; in his last six starts the righty is 4-1 with a 1.13 ERA.

Leake is scheduled to pitch twice in the coming week (his first start comes against another recommended two-start guy in Francisco Liriano) and is still available in a fair number of leagues.

* John Lannan is scheduled to return against his former team -- the Nationals -- on Monday and will face the Mets later in the week. He merits a look with those match-ups but, considering his lack of strikeout potential and his 6.14 ERA before going down, I'd wait and see.

* Are you a believer in Dillon Gee? After going 2-6 with a 6.34 ERA in his first 10 starts, the Mets hurler has experienced a stunning turnaround, with a 3-0 record, 1.29 ERA and 26/3 K/BB ratio in his last three turns. Tough to get much hotter than that. Then again, he's been complaining of elbow soreness so his health must be watched.

* The Diamondbacks are a perfect 13-0 in games started by Patrick Corbin this season. He'll look to extend the streak to 15 games with home starts against Miami and Cincinnati.

* Clay Buchholz is scheduled to pitch at home against the Rays Monday, lining him up for two starts, and with his MLB-leading 1.71 ERA he's obviously a must-play if he goes. He's somewhat iffy to make the start due to lingering soreness in his neck, however, so make sure to monitor him closely.

* With their double-header on Tuesday, the Mets and Braves are both scheduled to play eight games. Get their players into your lineup for extra production potential.

The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:

American League

Thursday, 6/20: John Danks @ MINDanks has been gradually adding velocity since returning to the Sox after last year's shoulder surgery. It showed in his last start, when he hurled eight innings of one-run ball.

Friday, 6/21: David Phelps vs. TBWith the exception of one disastrous outing against the Mets in which he allowed four earned runs and recorded only one out, Phelps has been very good recently, with five quality starts in his last seven turns.

Friday, 6/21: Hector Santiago @ KCSantiago has pitcher well this season (3.12 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) and matches up favorably against the scuffling Royals offense.

National League

Thursday, 6/20: Stephen Fife @ SDSo far so good for Fife, who has a 3.78 ERA and has averaged a strikeout per inning in three starts for the Dodgers this year.

Friday, 6/21: Jeremy Hefner @ PHIHefner is on a run of four straight quality starts. He has registered an excellent 21/4 K/BB ratio over that span.

Mike Leake didn't pitch especially well in his first couple outings for the Reds this season, putting up a 6.75 ERA and 6/6 K/BB ratio. Ever since then, however, the right-hander has been lights-out, exhibiting terrific control while consistently shutting down opposing lineups.

In his past 11 starts, Leake is 6-3 with a 2.07 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Over 69 2/3 innings, he has issued only 12 walks while striking out 53. His needle is strongly pointing up right now; in his last six starts the righty is 4-1 with a 1.13 ERA.

Leake is scheduled to pitch twice in the coming week (his first start comes against another recommended two-start guy in Francisco Liriano) and is still available in a fair number of leagues.

* John Lannan is scheduled to return against his former team -- the Nationals -- on Monday and will face the Mets later in the week. He merits a look with those match-ups but, considering his lack of strikeout potential and his 6.14 ERA before going down, I'd wait and see.

* Are you a believer in Dillon Gee? After going 2-6 with a 6.34 ERA in his first 10 starts, the Mets hurler has experienced a stunning turnaround, with a 3-0 record, 1.29 ERA and 26/3 K/BB ratio in his last three turns. Tough to get much hotter than that. Then again, he's been complaining of elbow soreness so his health must be watched.

* The Diamondbacks are a perfect 13-0 in games started by Patrick Corbin this season. He'll look to extend the streak to 15 games with home starts against Miami and Cincinnati.

* Clay Buchholz is scheduled to pitch at home against the Rays Monday, lining him up for two starts, and with his MLB-leading 1.71 ERA he's obviously a must-play if he goes. He's somewhat iffy to make the start due to lingering soreness in his neck, however, so make sure to monitor him closely.

* With their double-header on Tuesday, the Mets and Braves are both scheduled to play eight games. Get their players into your lineup for extra production potential.

The following pitchers are generally available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues and have favorable match-ups this week:

American League

Thursday, 6/20: John Danks @ MINDanks has been gradually adding velocity since returning to the Sox after last year's shoulder surgery. It showed in his last start, when he hurled eight innings of one-run ball.

Friday, 6/21: David Phelps vs. TBWith the exception of one disastrous outing against the Mets in which he allowed four earned runs and recorded only one out, Phelps has been very good recently, with five quality starts in his last seven turns.

Friday, 6/21: Hector Santiago @ KCSantiago has pitcher well this season (3.12 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) and matches up favorably against the scuffling Royals offense.

National League

Thursday, 6/20: Stephen Fife @ SDSo far so good for Fife, who has a 3.78 ERA and has averaged a strikeout per inning in three starts for the Dodgers this year.

Friday, 6/21: Jeremy Hefner @ PHIHefner is on a run of four straight quality starts. He has registered an excellent 21/4 K/BB ratio over that span.